Improvement in cutter-bars for reapers



F. R. & W. 0. SUTTON.

, CUTTER BARSFORREAPERS. 110.182,244. l Patented sept. 12, 181e.

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UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK SUTTON AND WILLIAM O. SUTTON, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CUTTER-BARS FOR REAPERS.

Specification forming part of LetterswPatent No.` 182.244, dated September12, 1876 application filed February 2l, 1876.

To all whom 'it lmay concern:

Be it known that we, FREDK. B.. and W. O. SUTTON, of` Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutter-Bars; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to cutter-bars for harvesters, reapers, and mowers; and it consists essentially in the construction and arrangement of the fingers and ledger-plates, and the means for holding said plates in position, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention appertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a cutter-bar embodying our invention. Fig. 2

' is a longitudinal section through one of the linger-bars. Figs. 3 and 4. are cross-sections through the lines x :v and y y, Fig. 2, respectively. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bar for fastening the ledger-plates. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of oneY ofthe ledger-plates.

A represents the linger-bar, to the under side of which the lingers B B are permanently secured in any of the known and usual ways. The lingers B are substantially of the ordinary form, and provided with side projections a, which are joined together, forming, as it were, one continuous bar, parallel with the front edge of the cutter-bar.

Each linger is slotted horizontally, for the reception of the ledger-plate C and the passage of the sickle-knife D. The front end of theledger-plate C is formed with a square slot or notch, b, which lits over a corresponding tongue, d, formed in the front end of the slot in the finger. The rear end of the ledgerplate is formed with aiv step, as shown at O in Fig. 6 5 and the corresponding portion of the finger is formed with a similar step, having a recess, e, formed therein, said recess extending over both the horizontal and perpendicular parts of the step in the linger, and it is of such dimension that the step of the ledgerplate will fit snugly therein and form a smooth surface.

It will thus be seen that the front end ofthe ledger-plate is held by the square tongue d in the square notch b, the advantage of which, over other modes of fastening with which we are acquainted, is that the ledger-plate cannot move laterally. Even supposing that the ledger-plate should have, by wear or otherwise, a certain play backward and forward, it is yet held by the square tongue and notch from any side movement, which is of the utmost importance in the proper Working of the cutter-bar.

We are aware that a harvester-cutter in which the front end of the ledger-plate has a V-shaped notch, andthe finger` has a corresponding V- shaped projection, is not new. In such case, as known to us, it is subject to the diiculties heretofore described.

In the rearV part of the linger B, under the linger-bar A and above and back ofthe recess e, is formed a horizontal cross groove or slot, f, in the rear part of which is formed a square tongue, t', as shown.

When the ledger-plate is to be removed, its rear end or step O is raised out of the recess e, and the plate then moved back into the groove f, which clears the front slot b from the tongue d, and the plate can then be taken out sidewise. It is inserted in its place in reverse manner.

The ledger-plates C C are locked by means of an L- shaped bar, G, having a series of square notches, h, in its horizontal rear edge,

Vas shown in Fig. 5. The horizontal part of this bar lits under the finger-bar in the groove f, the notches h fitting over the tongues i, and the vertical part of the bar fits against the front edge ofthe finger-bar A.

The knives D are attached to the usual bar D', which runs in the steps on the fingers, and has its back bearing against the locking-bar Gr, taking off all wear from the linger-bar. All the wear of the sickle is on the ledgerplates and locking-bar, which parts can easily be renewed, when required, making the machine as good as new.

l havin grecesses' e, grooves f, and square tongues i, all as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination ofthe step-shaped ledgerplates C and the L- shaped locking-bar Gr, ar-

ranged as described, to take off the wear from the fingers and finger-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto set our hands.

F. R. SUTTON. W. O. SUTTON. Witnesses: E. A. HALL,

C. L. EVERT. 

